Bibbon needle



(No Model.)

F. KOHLMANN. RIBBON NEEDLE.

Patented July 24, 1894. I I

YO-LITH (m: mums PEYER 0., WASHINGTON, a. c.

ATENT Fries.

FRANCES KOHLMANN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

RIBBON-NEEDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 523,476, dated July 24:, 1894.

Application filed December 27,1893. Serial No. 494,824. (No model.)

, city, county, and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements 1n Bodkins or' Ribbon-Needles, of which the following is a specification.

Thls invention relates to certain newand useful improvements in bodkins or ribbonneedles; and it consists substantially in such features thereof as will hereinafter be'more particularly described.

Many forms of bodkins or ribbon-needles have been heretofore devised having for their ob ect to facilitate the passage or threading of ribbons through various kinds of worsteds and lace garments, .as well as through various kinds of fancy-work, and the like. Among the most prominent of such devices in the market is that form of bodkin or ribbon-needle possessing duplicate parallel threading slots or eyes through which an end of the IlbbOD. is passed in opposite directions so as to prevent the ribbon from slipping out of place during the process or operation of passmg or working the ribbon in and out through the meshes or interstices of the garment or other articles being operated upon. It has been attempted furthermore to provide a bodkin or ribbonneedle with a-single threading slot or eye through which an end of the ribbon is passed, and in which instance, of course the end of the ribbon can only be threaded in one direction. One of the principal disadvantages attending the form of bodkin or ribbon-needlefirst above referred to is that in making the same of bone, ivory, hard-rubber or other vulcanized material, the small rib or dividing portion which must necessarily be provided between the duplicate slots or eyes frequently becomes broken, even upon falling from a Very limited height, and the result is that the needle is rendered unfit for further use, necessitating perhaps the purchase of another. This form of bodkin or ribbon-needle is besides objectionable to some extent when made of metal, since if the dividing portion be tween the threading eyes or slots becomes bent to any extent then the needle will catch into the material of the work and. prevent rapid progress. Furthermore this form of bodkin or ribbon-needle occupiesa comparatively longer time to place the ribbon properly therein, and the ribbon also has been known to slip outin many instances owing to the uncertainty with which the same is held.

A disadvantage incident to the use of a bodkin or ribbon-needle of the form second above referred to is that unless both portions of the ribbon are always securely held by the hand, or unless extreme"care be exercised, the ribbon will be constantly slipping out, which of course renders the use of the same very tedious and unreliable. Similar defects have been found also to exist with many other forms of bodkins or ribbon-needles, and which bodying my improvements; and Fig. 2, is a longitudinal sectional view thereof to indicate more clearly one embodiment of serrated edge. Figs. 3 and 4, are respectively a plan view and a longitudinal sectional view representing still another embodiment of my improved bodkin 0r ribbon-needle which may sometimes be employed. Fig. 5, is a view in perspective showing a ribbon Within the eye of the needle.

In the practice of my invention,for the purpose of cheapness, I may construct my improved bodkin or ribbon-needle either of hard wood or some simple metal, and for the more expensive, I may use steel, silver or brass, and in either case-the said needle may or may not be given any suitable surface ornamentation. Preferably I employ steel for the manufacture, and do not provide any surface ornamentation beyond a certain degree of polish or finish.

My improved bodkin or ribbon-needle is in lace, worsteds, or other fabrics is efiected by inserting the smaller end and drawing the needle through, which of course carries the ribbon through with it.

5, represents an eye or slot formed in the 5 larger portion of the needle at or near the end, and it is through this slot or eye that the free end of a ribbon or tape is passed or inserted and allowed to hang loosely, substantially as indicated in Fig. 5.

Each end Wall of the eye or slot is preferably formed with an angular or V-shaped notch 5 which as will readily be understood serves to receive-and guide the edges of the ribbon or tape when it is threaded into the eye or slot, and said notches also preserve the [iattened condition of the tape or ribbon, and prevent the edges thereof from becoming curled or rolled up. Thus it will be seen that small portions of the ribbon or tape will not have to be cut off and thrown away or wasted, as would be apt to be the case if an eye or slot were employed having straight edges at the ends thereof.

In that edge of the eye or slot next adjacent 2 5 to the enlarged end of the bodkin or needle,

I form a number or series of small serrations or teeth 6, which take into the tape or ribbon sufiiciently to hold the same and prevent it from slipping. In this way the operation or use of the bodkin or needle can be carried on without interruption or inconvenience.

For all ordinary purposes, as when coarse ribbon or tapes are employed, the form of teeth or serrations 6, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, will be 3 5 found to answer. But with ribbons or tapes of exceedingly fine texture, as silk ribbons, it requires teeth having comparatively fine points, and inasmuch as it is difficult to stamp or cut the teeth sufliciently sharp at the time of cuttingorstamping the needle from,sayfor instance a piece of metal, I prefer to, in some manner, as by one stroke of a fine file, give to one outer side of the teeth or serrations, an inclined or beveled form, such as is indicated at 7, in Figs. 3 and 4:. The bodkin or needle is of course usually cut or stamped up by one blow of a suitable die or cutting tool, when it will appear as represented in Figs. 1 and 2; and the form of teeth or serrations are, as

stated, then given the form shown in Figs. 8 and 4c, in any suitable manner. This special form of teeth 6, it will be seen gives to one side a straight direction, and to the other side a slant or bevel, and in the use of the needle the beveled side of the teeth is usually kept uppermost. By this construction it w ll be seen that the slight tension upon the ribbon or tape which is relied upon to cause engagement of the teeth will necessarily be at an acute angle and consequently the binding or holding eltect will be much more reliable and secure.

As a further embodiment I sometimes form a bevel 8, leading from the edge of the slot opposite to the teeth, which bevel is to aid or facilitate the insertion or threading of a tape or ribbon in the eye or slot. Inother words the end of the ribbon is guided or better directed into the slot'by virtue of such bevel 8, p

as will be readily apparent.

Bodkins or needles of my improvement may be constructed of any preferred size, and it is of course understood that they are to be supplied-to the market having slots or eyes of different sizes so as to accommodate the different standard sizes or widths of tapes or ribbons sold.

I claim- 1. A bodkin or ribbon needle provided at or near one end with a slot transverse to its longitudinal axis, said slot being straight on one edge and having a series of teeth along the other-edge, and each end of the slot terminating in a substantially V-shaped notch, substantially as shown and for the purpose described.

2. A bodkin or ribbon needle provided at or near one end with a slot transverse to its 1011- gitudinal axis, said slot being straight on one edge and having a series of teeth along the other edge, said teeth having one of their faces beveled and the other face thereof straight and flush with the surface of the needle and said slot terminating at each end in a V- shaped notch, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' FRANCES KOI-ILMANN.

Witnesses:

H. H. RICE, JOHN H. GUNTHER. 

